Sullivan & Cromwell says AI-generated errors appeared in Manhattan bankruptcy court filing
The Facts
- Sullivan & Cromwell apologized to a federal bankruptcy judge for submitting a court filing that contained inaccurate citations and other errors generated by artificial intelligence.
- The apology was made in a letter dated April 18 from Andrew Dietderich to Judge Martin Glenn of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan.
- The errors included AI "hallucinations," meaning fabricated case citations, misquoted authorities, or non-existent legal sources.
- The mistakes were discovered by lawyers at Boies Schiller Flexner, according to Dietderich's letter.
- The flawed filing was made in early April in a bankruptcy matter in the Southern District of New York involving Prince Global Holdings or Prince Group.
- Sullivan & Cromwell said its policies or protocols governing AI use were not followed when the document was prepared.
- The firm said it was evaluating whether to make further enhancements to its internal training and review processes after the incident.
Context
What does the firm mean by AI "hallucinations"?
In Dietderich's letter, the term refers to AI outputs that fabricate case citations, misquote legal authorities, or generate non-existent legal sources Business Insider,Reuters,CNA.
Who brought the errors to the court's attention?
According to the firm's letter, the mistakes were caught by Boies Schiller Flexner, and Dietderich said he thanked the firm for flagging them Reuters,CNA,Maryland Daily Reco….
What has Sullivan & Cromwell said it will do in response?
The firm said its AI procedures were not followed in this instance and that it is considering whether additional training or stronger review processes are needed Financial Times News,Bloomberg Business,news.bloomberglaw.c….
How left and right read it
A major law firm told a federal bankruptcy judge that an early April filing in the Prince Global Holdings matter included AI-generated inaccuracies, including fabricated citations and misquoted or non-existent legal sources. The firm said its own AI protocols were not followed and is now weighing stronger training and review, underscoring how quickly new tools can outpace professional safeguards in high-stakes proceedings.
Sullivan & Cromwell’s April 18 letter to Judge Martin Glenn is a reminder that basic professional discipline still matters more than fashionable technology in court. The firm acknowledged that its AI-use protocols were not followed, and the errors, including fabricated legal references, were serious enough that opposing lawyers at Boies Schiller Flexner spotted them first.
The receipts — all 22 sources
Wire services (2)
Independent coverage (20)
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